Blue British passports to be restored from October 2019, the Government announces
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/519254...passport-back/
BACK AND BLUE: UK to get its iconic dark blue passport back in stunning Brexit victory for The Sun
The Government has agreed to our demand to scrap the EU’s burgundy model, enforced on the nation from 1988
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Sun
BRITS will get their iconic dark blue passports back after Brexit, ministers announce today — in a stunning campaign victory for The Sun.
The Government has agreed to our demand to scrap the EU’s burgundy model, enforced on the nation from 1988.
Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis said: “One of the most iconic things about being British is having a British passport.”
From the first day of Brexit, March 29 2019, burgundy-coloured new passports will still be issued, but no longer with any EU insignia on them.
And five months later in October - when the current passport manufacturers’ contract expires - all new British passports will be issued in the dark blue colour that was once famous across the globe.
In a second victory for The Sun’s determined 17 month campaign, the Home Office has also decided to hand over blue passports early.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Sun
At the moment, new passports can only be applied for once 10 year long current ones expire.
But in a special dispensation, any British citizen will be able to request to a new blue passport even if their old burgundy ones have many years left to run.
Revealing the decision, Mr Lewis told The Sun last night: “I recognise that for many people who voted in that referendum, they want to see things that are different.
“One of the most iconic things about being British is having a British passport.
“So from the first day we leave, new passports will look different and within five months they will be very different, because they will be dark blue again.” The cabinet minister added: “We wanted to return to the dark blue passport because we recognise the string attachment people had to it”.
The Sun also reveals the design for the new blue passports’ front page today.
The Royal (British) Coat of Arms will sit on its front in gold.
Inside pages will be adorned with patriotic background scenes from all four corners of UK.
The new blue passports will also be one of the most secure travel documents anywhere in the world.
A raft of cutting edge security features and technologies are being built into the design to guard against fraud and forgery.
They include polycarbonate pages, a double set of photos of the holder so they can be cross referenced, and a biometric microchip
The "Old Blue" passport was introduced in 1920 as the Imperial passport of the British Empire - which is why Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and many other countries all to this day still have a black/navy blue passport.
Six years later the League of Nations — forerunner of the United Nations — described the elegant British design as "perfection itself".
But in 1981 — eight years after we joined the EU — Brussels demanded all member states should have a "European" passport within four years.
Britain resisted strongly until 1988. We were the last of the then EU nations to go burgundy.
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Excellent news!
It just so happens that my passport expires in 2021 so I wouldn't have to wait long anyway but i'll be requesting a new blue one as soon as they come out. For patriotic reasons but also because my passport is pretty tatty atm!
Thoughts?
